International Relations

UCD School of Politics & International Relations is the oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies and a world-renowned faculty drawn from many countries.



The MA/MSc International Relations probes into the causes and consequences of phenomena such as war, trade, regional integration, migration and terrorism. As part of the programme, you will:



- Examine theoretical approaches in the contemporary study of international politics and their application.

- Improve your skills in research design and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

- Have a wide range of specialisations available to you to enable you to develop your specific expertise.

Stage 1 Core Modules

POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn 10

POL42330 Research Design Autumn 10

POL42060 International Security Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - B) Min 10CR:

Core Option List: Students must select at least one module in this section.

POL40370 International Political Economy Spring 10

POL42530 Politics of International Trade and Investment Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:

If you select 2 modules in the Core Option Section, select one module here. If you select 1 module in the Core Option Section, select two module here.



AMST40580 News Media Today Autumn 10

POL40100 Politics of Development Autumn 10

POL40130 Poverty, Development and Global Justice Autumn 10

POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Autumn 10

POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn 10

POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn 10

POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn 10

POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn 10

POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn 10

POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn 10

AMST40650 Politics and Digital Storytelling Spring 10

POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring 10

POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring 10

POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring 10

POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring 10

POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring 10

POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring 10

POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring 10

POL42430 IR Theory: Conflict and Identity Spring 10

POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism Spring 10

POL42580 Arab Perceptions of Conflict Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - D)30CR:

Students must select either the thesis or the internship.

POL42300 SPIRe Internship Summer 30

POL42310 Thesis Summer 30

A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law. 2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.



Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.



English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement.

https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/undergraduate/entryrequirements/



Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/



These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No



Application Deadlines

Deadline for EU applicants: Monday, 7 September 2026 (The first day of the term)

Deadline for non-EU applicants: The end of August, 2026



Deadline for non-EU applicants who require an entry visa in advance:

In some countries, it takes a few months to process visa applications. We strongly advise that you apply well in advance, ideally as early as March. Please contact the Irish Embassy in your country or the UCD Global Regional offices for further information.



Non-EU citizens who have been living in Ireland or the EU must go through the EU Fee Assessment process before their applications can be assessed. This process takes a few weeks.

W235: 1 year full-time

W236: 2 years part-time

W235 MA International Relations

Master of Arts Full-Time

Commencing September 2026



W236 MA International Relations

Master of Arts Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Careers & Employability

Graduates work with international private-sector employers, government agencies and non-governmental organisations including the United Nations and IMF in roles such as government social researcher, diplomatic advisor, and public affairs consultant.